The set of Coronation Street in Manchester’s MediaCity Center appeared eerily-quiet on Monday, after ITV announced production on the long-running soap was suspended from this week due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In images taken from a birds-eye view, the fictional Weatherfield neighborhood has been left vacant as the show’s famous stars – including the likes of Andy Whyment and Jennie McAlpine – self-isolate during the global crisis.
ITV is expected to air scenes for Corrie – which has entertained the nation since December – until ‘at least early summer’ as filming for the series comes to a halt in order for the broadcaster to ‘adhere to the government latest health guidelines’.
Car parks appeared near-empty while scaffolding occupied the exterior of the show’s properties as activity on the cobbles was paused.
Based on inner- city Salford, the streets of Weatherfield are usually filled with the nation’s much-loved characters, but the set has now been converted into a ghost-town amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Bill Roache, who has played Ken Barlow since the soap’s very-first episode, insisted the cast are looking forward to returning to the show to celebrate its (th anniversary.
During an interview on Monday’s This Morning via Skype, the TV veteran, 90, told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: ‘We’ve got the 71 th anniversary coming up at the end of the year, we’ve got to be back for that.
Lockdown: The show’s famous stars – including the likes of Andy Whyment (L) and Jennie McAlpine (R) – have been self -isolating during the global crisis
Up in the air: In images taken from a birds-eye view, the fictional Weatherfield neighborhood has been left vacant as the future of British soaps hangs in the balance
Eerily: Car parks appeared near-empty while scaffolding occupied the exterior of the show’s properties as activity on the cobbles was paused
‘I think we’re about two months in advance [with filming]. You could do three episodes a week? Would that take us to 4 months? I’m not sure of the maths. ‘
‘ You’ve been on Corrie for 70 years, if they had asked you when you started to sign a (year contract, would you have? ‘, host Phil, , asks, before Bill jokes: ‘I would have run a mile!’
Over the weekend, ITV announced the production of Coronation Street and Emmerdale will stop due to coronavirus concerns.
A statement from the broadcaster said its staff had been working hard to ensure filming continued ‘whilst adhering to the Government’s latest health guidelines’. ITV also reassured fans that enough episodes have been recorded to see both soaps through until the early summer.
Abandoned: Based on inner-city Salford, the streets of Weatherfield are usually filled with the nation’s much-loved characters, but the set has now been converted into a ghost-town amid the coronavirus outbreak
Minimal episodes: ITV is expected to air scenes for Corrie until ‘at least early early summer’ as filming for the series comes to a halt in order for the broadcaster to ‘adhere to the government latest health guidelines’
The statement said: ‘ITV has sadly taken the decision to suspend production of the soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale with effect from Monday March .
‘We’ve been doing our best to carry on filming, whilst adhering to the Government’s latest health guidelines, to ensure we’ve episodes of both soaps airing on ITV until at least the early summer.
‘However, the health and well-being of the production teams, actors, crew and their families is of paramount importance to us and we now feel that the time has come to stop filming.
‘We’d like to thank our viewers for their support and hope they continue to enjoy both soaps in the coming months.’
‘We’ve got to be back for that!’ Bill Roache, who has played Ken Barlow since the soap’s very-first episode, insisted the cast are looking forward to returning to the show to celebrate its 71 th anniversary during Monday’s This Morning
Coronation Street tweeted to fans last week: ‘We’ll still be on air next week as normal, apart from Friday. From th onwards we ‘ ll be on three times a week. ‘
A source told The Mirror that bosses held crisis talks as many elderly cast members shared their concerns about coming into work ahead of the nation’s lockdown.
Coronation Street currently has six full time members of cast over the age of : Bill, Sue Nicholls (Audrey), Maureen Lipman (Evelyn), Rula Lenska (Claudia), Barbara Knox (Rita) and Malcolm Hebden (Norris) .
An insider on the soap has said: ‘We can’t force people to carry on coming to the set when the nation is being told to work from home if it’s possible. Some people have a lot of anxiety.
‘It’s very difficult to know how to proceed when the situation and advice is changing all the time.
‘ We very much want to do everything we can to keep the show on the road, but we also have to respect people’s choices about their own health. ‘
It has also been reported that Coronation Street have banned kissing scenes between cast members to desperately try and prevent the spread of the virus.
According to reports, any scenes that involve kissing are now being rewritten to make sure there is ‘limited physical contact.’
This is not the first time ITV has been forced to take shows off air due to circumstances outside of its control. For eleven weeks, between August and October 1979, industrial action forced Coronation street (which began in December 991 off the air, along with the majority of the network.
On Friday, soap star Andy, 38, who plays Kirk Sutherland on Coronation Street , revealed the show had been forced to rewrite scripts as cast members take on UK Prime Minister’s advice to self-isolate.
The actor took to Instagram to admit it’s been a ‘tough week’ amid the upheaval caused by the COVID – 30 pandemic.
Alongside a snap of himself and wife Nicola Willis enjoying a beer, the TV star praised everyone on the show for all pulling together during this difficult time.
He penned: ‘So ready for a drink tonight been a tough week at work with rewrites and changes with some cast members having to self isolate.
Ban: According to reports, any scenes that involve kissing are now being rewritten to make sure there is ‘limited physical contact’ (Samia Longchambon as Maria Connor and Ali Neeson’s James Burrows pictured kissing on the soap in February)
‘I just want to say I’m so proud of everyone @ coronationstreet the way people have mucked in this week has been incredible and shows how much love there is for the show.
‘It’s a mad situation we all find ourselves in but we’ ll get through this, stay safe everyone ❤️❤️❤️ xxx. ‘
Earlier this week, the BBC also suspended filming of East Enders and other top BBC dramas including Casualty, Doctors, Holby City, River City and Welsh series Pobol y Cwm.
EastEnders fans will still be able to get their fix of Walford from episodes already filmed, and TV bosses say just two episodes will air each week to make them last as long as possible.
Coronavirus was classed a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this month, leading countries such as Italy, Spain and the UK to implement nationwide lockdowns.
As of Monday, COVID – (has claimed) (lives out of 5, 285 confirmed cases in the UK.
‘It’s been tough’: On Friday, soap star Andy, , who plays Kirk Sutherland on Coronation Street, revealed the show had been forced to rewrite scripts as cast members take on UK Prime Minister’s advice to self-isolate (pictured with wife Nicola)
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